Means for producing pipe bends



y 1943. E. H. TAYLORI- 2,318,113

MEANS FOR PRODUCING PIPE BENDS Filed Jan. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 5 m, limb/Mag;

May 4, 19 43. 1-: H. TAYLOR I MEANS FOR PRODUCING PIPE BENDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1940 Patented May 4, 1943 T OFFICE MEANS FOR PRODUCING PIPE BENDS Edward Hall Taylor, Oak Park, Ill.

Application January 22, 1940, Serial No.

4 Claims. (01. 153-48) This invention relates to bends, and has to do with means for producing pipe bends and analoous articles from tubular blanks.

It is known to produce pipe bends by forcing tubular blanks along a mandrel rod and over a forming mandrel secured to one end of the rod. My invention is directed to means whereby the tubular blanks may be placed over the mandrel rod and forced along the same and over the mandrel, with expedition and facility, with a view to production of the bends at comparatively low cost. More specifically, I provide pusher means reciprocable lengthwise of the mandrel rod for forcing the blanks along the latter, and means for gripping the rod and restraining it against lengthwise movement during forcing of a blank therealong, the parts being so related that when the gripping means is released and the pusher means is in its retracted or inoperative position, a blank may be inserted over the mandrel rod with expedition and facility. Further objects and advantages will appear from the detail de' scription.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View, partly broken away and with certain parts shown in section, of means embodying my invention for producing pipe bends; V

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially n line 33 of Figure 4, certain parts being shown in elevation and the pusher members being shown in dotted lines in their retracted or inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Flgure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the clamping means in releasing or open position; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 65 of Figure 3.

The preferred form of my invention includes a press comprising an upright main frame or standard I, of suitable construction, provided, at the inner side of its upper portion, with an inward extension 8 carrying a guide rail or plate 9. A cross head [0 is slidably mounted on plate 8 for vertical reciprocation, by means of associated guides H, in a known manner. This cross head is suitably secured to the lower end of a piston rod I 2 extending through the lower end of a. cylinder l3, suitably secured on frame 1 adjacent the upper end thereof, the upper end of rod l2 being suitably secured to a piston (not shown). operating in cylinder [3 in a known manner.

A yoke I4, of substantially U-shape in plan, projects from the inner side wall of main frame I and is formed integrally therewith or otherwise suitably secured thereto, this yoke being in ver- 7 projection 8 and.

tical alignment with and below cross head l0 and theparts associated therewith; Bight portion I5 of yoke I4 is provided with an integral upward extension per end, an inwardly extending gripping jaw I! is of arcuate shape, as 5, and is providedwith or teeth 18. Gripping shown in Figures 4 and inwardly projecting ribs jaw l1 cooperates with an inner opposed movable gripping jaw l9 provided, at its inner end; with an arcuate recess, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, jaw l9 also being provided with two lateral extensions 20. An operating rod 2| is mounted for reciprocation through a bushing 22 disposed in a boss 23 integral with inner side wall' 7a of frame l Jaw 19, like jaw 17, is provided with spaced ated with a cylinder 26 suitably mounted on the 7b of frame 1. The jaws l7 and grip a mandrel rod and restrained in any suitable known manner.

Opening 38 is disposed to receive a mandrel rod 39 clamped adjacent its upper end between the jaws l1 and I9 and extending downward therefrom into the furnace 28. A curved man- I 6 carrying, at its upnace 2 drel 40 is suitably secured to the lower end of rod 39 and extends therefrom forwardly of fur- 28 above roller 3|. The mandrel rod 39 is of cylindrical form and proper diameter for reception of tubular blanks 4| which are forced downward along rod 39 and over the mandrel 40, the latter being shaped in a known manner to form the blank forced thereover into a bend 42. The upper end of rod 39 is rounded at 43, to facilitate: placing of blanks 4| over this rod, the latter being provided, a short distance from its upper end, with suitably disposed rib or teeth 44 with which the teeth of the jaws l1 and I9 cooperate for clamping the mandrel rod and restraining it against downward movement. The teeth of the jaws and the teeth of the mandrel rod are of rounded cross section to facilitate engagement thereof and to exert a slight lifting effect on the mandrel rod when jaw I9 is moved into clamping or operative position. When rod 39 is clamped between the jaws; it is supported thereby invertical position, extending downward through opening 38 with a blank 4| on this rod in contact with rib 35- and the bend 42, on the mandrel 40; in light contact with the roller 3|, sufficient to guide the bend 42 while not presenting. appreciable resistance to movement thereof over. the mandrel, since roller 32 is free-to rotate.

Two pusher bars 45 are pivoted at their upper ends; at 45, to. cross-head it, at opposite sides of andv equidistant from red l2. Bars 45 extend downward through. yoke l4, at opposite sides 01" the mandrel rod. 39. Each of the bars 45 is provided, at itslower' end, with a downwardly and inwardly inclined pusher element 41', the lower portion 41a of which s suitably formed so as to fit about rod 39 circumferentially thereof, the lower end. of each element 41a preferably being flat and of appreciable width extending perpendicular to rod 39'. Pusher bars 45 are guided in their vertical movement by the arms of yoke l4 and are confined thereby against movementaway from. rod 39, with elements 41fitting snugly about the rod, so long. as these latter" elements arev disposedibelow the upper edges of the yoke arms, as will be. clear When the. pusher bars: 45 aremoved into their upper or'inoperative position,.ndicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, the: inner inclined surfaces of elements .41 contact thelower edges of elements 29 of jaw l9; thus swinging. the arms 45 outward from rod 39 about pivots 4.5; and moving elements 41, including portions 41'a' thereof, into positions spaced. from rod 39 providing clearance thereabout,.as will. be. clear from. Figure 3. During the z.

first portion of. the down stroke of bars 45, elements 41 contact the upper inner edges of the arms of yoke l4 and are moved thereby: inward toward mandrel rod 39, into position with the lower portions. 411: of elements 41 fitting snugly about this rod, as in Figure 3, in which latter position the pusher bars 45 are maintained during the remainder ofthe down stroke thereof and until they have been returned, in their u stroke, to position with the elements 41 disposed above the arms of the yoke.

A blank heating furnace 55, of known construction. and heated in any suitable known manner', suitably. located withrespect'to the mandrel rod and associated parts; is provided with an extension or shelf projecting adjacent the upper. end of rod: 39; Furnace: 59 receives a suitable. number of. blanks 41, which are heated to proper working temperature within the furnace: and, as'required, may be removed therefrom, onefrom. Figures 2 and 3.

at a time, through a suitable opening controlled by a door 52, the removed blank being temporarily supported by shelf 5|. When the pusher bars have been moved upward into their inoperative position, and jaw H! has been moved into its open or inoperative position shown in Figure 5, the blank 4| on shelf 5| may be removed therefrom and placed over the mandrel rod 39, down which the blank is moved into contact with the upper end of a preceding blank placed on this rod. When the jaw I9 is in open position the rod 39 may be tilted toward the back of the furnace 28, in placing the blank 4| on the mandrel rod, to provide clearance about this rod for movement of the blank therealong. That tilting of rod 39 may readily be accomplished, since, at that time, the mandrel and the rod are supported by the roller 3| which permits ready tilting of the rod in the manner stated. After a blank 4| has been inserted over the rod and moved downward there along into position with its upper end disposed below yoke l4, jaw I9 is moved into closed or clamping position, thus raising the rod 39 slightly, as above stated, and effectively clamping it in position, in cooperation with jaw l1. Thereafter the pusher bars 45 are moved downward along rod 39, with the lower portions 41:; of. elements 41 fitting snugly about this rod. Such downward movement of the pusher bars 45 brings the lower ends of elements 41a into contact with the upper end of the blank which, in the continued downward movement of bars 45 is forced downward along rod 39, forcing the preceding blank along this rod and over the mandrel 4c. The bends 42 formed by passing the blanks over the mandrel 40 are delivered from the latter to the inclined bottom Wall 29 of furnace 2'8, and pass through the opening 30. The length of the stroke of the pusher bars 45 preferably is such that a bend 42 is' forrned during each down stroke of the pusher bars, though the stroke of these bars may be of any suitable or preferred length as conditions may require or as desired. By having the blank heating furnace 5|) adjacent the mandrel rod 39, with shelf 5| extending into proximity to the upper end of this rod, the heated blanks may be successively placed over the mandrel rod with expedition and facility, which is conducive to high speed operation.

The cross head It and the clamping jaw l9 may be operated in any suitable manner, conveniently by reciprocating the pistons in the cylinders l3 and 25. For that purpose, I provide a manifold or header to which is connected a supply pipe 56 leading from a suitable source of supply of pressure fluid, either liquid or gaseous. Assuming that the parts are pneumatically operated, air under suitable pressure is supplied to the'hea'der 55. This header is' connected to two control valves 51 of known type, each provided with an exhaust tube 58} One of the valves 51 is connected by two tubes 59 and'tll tocylinder 26 adjacent the ends thereof. The other valve 51 is connected by a tube 5| to cylinder l3, adjacent thelower endthereof, and by a tube 62 to cylinder l3 adjacent the upper end thereof in an obvious'manner, not shown. By properly manipulatin'g ithe valves 51, the push bars 45 and clampmg. j'aw |9 may be moved in: desired directions as required. If preferredhydraulic operation of thecross head It and-jaw l9" maybe'util'ized, in which case-the exh'aust tubes 58 ofthe' valves 51 may: be suitably connected-to tubes appropriately connected to the hydraulic system,

Changes in details may oe resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations, s fall Wi hin the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In means mounted for reciprocation on said rod, and pusher bars pivoted to and depending from said cross-head at maintaining said ing their down stroke.

2. In means for producing pipe bends from rod during movement of said pusher means lengthwise of said rod toward said mandrel.

4. In means for producing pipe bends from tubular blanks, a substantially vertical mandrel down stroke EDWARD HALL of said bars. TAYLOR. 

